Tracheal intubation

Tracheal intubation places a tube through the larynx into the trachea to maintain an airway and support ventilation. It permits controlled delivery of oxygen and anesthetic gases.

Laryngoscopy: Examination of the larynx, commonly using an instrument to view the vocal cords. Direct or video laryngoscopy exposes the glottis so the tube can pass into the trachea.
Larynx: A hollow organ in the neck that connects the pharynx to the trachea and houses the vocal cords. The tube passes through the larynx's opening, the glottis, on its way to the trachea.
General anesthesia: A medically induced state of unconsciousness, amnesia, and reduced response to painful stimulation. An endotracheal tube can maintain ventilation and airway access during general anesthesia.
Supraglottic airway device: An airway device that sits above the vocal cords and channels gas toward the larynx. Unlike a tracheal tube, it does not pass through the vocal cords into the trachea.
Endotracheal tube: A tube placed through the mouth or nose into the trachea to provide an airway. Its lumen carries gas, while its cuff can seal the trachea during ventilation.
Trachea: A cartilage-supported airway connecting the larynx to the bronchi. It is the destination for the tube and the conduit for gas to reach the lungs.
Mechanical ventilation: Machine-assisted movement of gas into and out of the lungs. An endotracheal tube commonly provides the interface between a ventilator and the lungs.
Noninvasive ventilation: Ventilatory support delivered through an external interface, such as a face mask, without an invasive airway tube. It can support ventilation without placing a tube through the larynx when circumstances allow.
Bag-valve-mask ventilation: Manual ventilation that moves gas into a patient's lungs through a face mask or airway device. It can oxygenate a patient before intubation and provide rescue ventilation if placement is difficult.
Upper respiratory tract: The airway structures extending from the nose and mouth through the pharynx and larynx. These structures form the passage the tube must traverse before entering the trachea.

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